Syracuse hits the road for the first time this season on Thursday night, as the Orange visit Pittsburgh for a standalone ACC matchup at Acrisure Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Orange make the trip looking to clean up the mistakes that cost them in Saturday’s 21-18 loss to Cal. Syracuse piled up 436 yards and 27 first downs, but three Steve Angeli interceptions, 15 penalties for 132 yards and two missed fourth-quarter field goals helped turn a productive offensive afternoon into the program’s first loss of the season.
Pitt enters its ACC opener at 2-0, although its first two victories couldn’t have looked more different. The Panthers erupted for a 59-14 win over Miami (Ohio) in Week 1 before relying on their defense to survive a 12-7 battle with UCF on Saturday.
That defense has been particularly difficult to run against. UCF managed only 20 rushing yards and 206 total yards against the Panthers, while Pitt has surrendered just 47 rushing yards through its first two games. The Knights did not score until the final three minutes of Saturday’s game.
Quarterback Mason Heintschel gives Pitt plenty of upside on the other side of the ball. Heintschel has completed 49 of 70 passes for 665 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions, although all seven of those touchdown passes came in the season-opening rout of Miami (Ohio). UCF held him to 212 passing yards without a touchdown last weekend.
Thursday will mark the 82nd meeting in a series that has been played every season since 1955. Pitt owns a 45-33-3 all-time advantage and has won the last two meetings, beating Syracuse 41-13 in Pittsburgh in 2024 and 30-13 at the Dome last season. Syracuse’s most recent win came at Yankee Stadium in 2023, when the Orange beat the Panthers 28-13.
Pitt has also won 11 consecutive home games against Syracuse, giving the Orange an opportunity to end a lengthy drought as they begin a stretch of more than a month away from the JMA Wireless Dome.
Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh Odds
Pittsburgh is a double-digit home favorite for Thursday night’s ACC matchup at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: Syracuse +10.5 (-115) | Pittsburgh -10.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: Syracuse +325 | Pittsburgh -450
- Total: Over 51.5 (-115) | Under 51.5 (-105)
Referenced odds subject to change.
Best Bet for Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh
Syracuse +10.5 (-115):Ā Before Pitt’s 17-point win last season and 28-point victory in 2024, four of the previous seven meetings between these programs were decided by 11 points or fewer. Syracuse won 28-13 in 2023, while Pitt’s previous victory at Acrisure Stadium was a 19-9 game in 2022.
There is also reason to question how much separation Pitt can create offensively. The Panthers scored 59 against Miami (Ohio), but their first game against a power-conference opponent turned into a grind. Pitt managed 315 total yards against UCF, averaged just 2.4 yards per rushing attempt and scored only one offensive touchdown in a five-point victory.
Syracuse’s loss to Cal was frustrating, but the Orange still moved the football. They finished with 436 yards, held a 27-16 advantage in first downs and possessed the ball for more than 34 minutes. The bigger issue was repeatedly giving those advantages away through penalties, interceptions and missed kicks.
A cleaner performance gives Syracuse a chance to make this look much more like the competitive meetings that preceded the last two seasons. In a standalone Thursday night conference game between two programs that have seen each other every year since 1955, getting more than a touchdown – and crossing the key number of 10 – provides enough cushion to back the Orange on the road.
- Best Bet: Syracuse +10.5 (-115)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
Despite both teams’ latest result, Hard Rock Bet players are anticipating a shootout on Thursday night:
- Moneyline: Pittsburgh has received 93.2% of all moneyline tickets and 88% of the handle.
- Spread: Syracuse +10.5 accounts for only 43.3% of spread tickets, but the Orange have drawn 57.3% of the money wagered.
- Total: Over 51.5 leads with 62.9% of the tickets, while Under 51.5 has pulled in 54.9% of the handle.
Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh Game Info
- šļø Location: Acrisure Stadium – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- š Date: Thursday, September 17
- ā° Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- šŗ Where to Watch: ESPN
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